All the top European youth teams were there with some Asian teams thrown in. Jack's team representing Australia were one of 18 teams and is basically the preeminent u11 tournament going.
Sounds like Jack got his confidence back as by all accounts he played well with Greg also shining. He has had a tough 6 months with his footie, his usual high standards dropping and for the first time also his enthusiasm levels. Sometimes I think he is not suited to English crash bang wallop football which is still so prevelant here.
Not a surprise to me that Schalke won the tournament. Jack knows their u11 set up well having been with them for the last 2 Septembers. They are an outstanding group of young players who are technically excellent but likwise 200% committed. I would guess that at least 4 of them in the future will make the Schalke first team. In the current Schalke first team (which just finished 5th in the Bundesliga) they have a rediculously high representation from every graduating age group.
Jack really enjoyed the time with his old Aus mates. Whilst Cory and Greg did not go to the same school they have played an awful lot of football together and are close. Both have been with Jack at Schalke as well. Jacqui thought she saw his old self around his Aussie mates and it definitely contributed to his meltdown when he got back on Monday morning. He really misses his Aussie mates. It's been 2 years since we moved and the fact that Jack is still feeling like this really shows that the saying 'kids are resilient and are much better coping with change' is not entirely true. Jack the poor fella is in his 3rd different school in 3 years and then next year he will start his 4th as he starts Secondary school. Within all that Jack also missed 1.5 years of school as he went straight from midway though year 3 in Aus to starting year 5 in the Uk. Honestly think it's all now catching up with him. Basically he went from being old in his class to young, and the same for his football. In Aus he relied on his physical strength and now here the more physical game plus the age thing has held him back a little.
I would have loved to have been there. Jacqui had her camera stolen on the way back so these are not our photos - check out the teams too including Man U, Bayern Nervelusen :), Ajax, Porto, Spurs et al. To rub salt into the wound during the FA Cup extra time Jack's team also lost 2-1 to Man U.
This is Jack - in the Australia photos number #10:
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